Vertebrate campaign for wild swimmer Maclean makes a TikTok splash with 15m views

Scottish wild swimmer and author Calum Maclean’s 1001 Outdoor Swimming Tips is making waves on TikTok, and has received more than 15 million views for just one of his videos.

The clip, which features the author exploring Loch Mòrar, Scotland’s deepest loch, is part of the publicity campaign co-ordinated by indie publisher Vertebrate. The press, which specialises in climbing, walking, running, swimming and cycling titles won Small Press of the Year at the British Book Awards in May. 

Maclean is due to appear at a sell-out launch event at Birks Cinema in Aberfeldy, and is conducting interviews with Scotland Outdoors, BBC Radio Scotland, in addition to a number of publications. 

Maclean’s 1001 Outdoor Swimming Tips, which publishes on 7th July, covers "everything the wild and outdoor swimmer could ever need to know, from biosecurity, nutrition, swimming while pregnant and during the menopause, night swimming, safety, swimming with children, cold water swimming, essential gear and training," according to the synopsis.

Vertebrate m.d. Jon Barton said: "Calum really captures the essence of the book, summarising the safety, health, fun and irreverence of 1001 Outdoor Swimming Tips into a single TikTok."